I saw Modern Marvels yesterday and it was on Civil War Weapondry. They were talking about several different weapons. My favorite was the Lemat Revolver. There is nothing better than a hand gun and a 16 gauge shotgun all in one. The narrator said that if your lucky enough to find one at a auction they go for 2,000 dollars or more. If you want it engraved it goes even higher. In my oppinion if it aint already engraved with something Im aint going to engrave it.

____________________War Means Fighting And Fighting Means Killing - N. B. Forrest
When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard." Stonewall Jackson

I find it hard to believe that an ACW-era LeMat could be had for as little as $2000. There weren't that many imported and those that were were expensive. Think I read that Stuart carried one, but can't be positive about it.

And you're right about the engraving. If you had one, you'd best be very, very careful about cleaning it.

J.E.B. Stuart carried one. He was a firm believer in them. Ive heard that every man in his calvary unit had one. They were great because you could use two different types of bullets and were deadly at close range.

____________________War Means Fighting And Fighting Means Killing - N. B. Forrest
When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard." Stonewall Jackson

Pic7Pic8Pic9Pic10 $18,900
A Transitional Model of the famous LeMat revolver in very strong condition and quality with a very desirable early All Matching Serial Numbers #915, barrel marked “Col. LeMat BTE sgdg Paris”. The two piece walnut checkered handles are crisp with very minimal wear. The gun’s metal surface shows nice original even brown patina. Some original blue remains in less exposed areas. The LeMat “grapeshot” revolver was a highly prized sidearm among Confederate officers. There were less than 3,000 made for the Confederacy. It is a very high quality firearm and delivers an unprecedented amount of firepower. Has 9, .42 caliber charges rotating around one 20 gauge shotgun barrel. The hammer could be converted from striking the revolving pistol caps to striking the central shotgun cap with the flick of a thumb.
This revolver came into the Confederacy through the second delivery of 500 guns to Richmond between January – July 1863. The famous Confederate Navy Captain John N. Maffitt of the CSS Florida carried LeMat revolver #946, 31 units after this offered LeMat. A true war time LeMat of excellent overall condition for any Civil War collection.

I'm sure they were mistaken when quoting a $2,000 price. The writers for those shows are not historians. I've caught several mistakes on the Historty Channel....the most memorable is when they gave the wrong dates for the battle of Shiloh!

I do like the History Channel, but take a great deal of what they say with a grain of salt.

Have you ever watched Lost. You might like that show. I went to Florida two years ago with my grandparents. We stopped in Georgia for a few nights with my aunt, uncle and cousin. Every body went to bed about 11 while my uncle and me watched History Channel til 3 in the morning. The next day my papa asked us what we did all night. When we told him we watched History all night he said it would have put him to sleep. Every body else agreed with him.

____________________War Means Fighting And Fighting Means Killing - N. B. Forrest
When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard." Stonewall Jackson

I really don't watch any network TV......In the summer, I am outside till it's time for bed (we live in the country, so I spend my time watching life go by on the back porch!!). In the winter, I usually paint 15mm Civil War soldiers so we can play "Johnny Reb III" on my game table, or I'm downstairs in my "bar" (affectionately called "Old Times", as "old times are not forgotten, look away, look away looka way, Dixieland) having "open mic night" with my karaoke machine!!

Basically, I've not found too much on TV anymore that interests me enough to come in off the porch.....I guess I enjoy the sunsets more.....

The LeMat actually was not very popular w/ the men who carried them, the CS govt didn't like them much either mainly due to their cost and odd ammo. The men disliked them for their weight and odd .40 or .42 cal, I don't recall which, bullet. In short existing stocks of ammo were either too big or too small. A Kerr or Colt was about half the weight and less than a third of the cost; not to mention being less complex and easier to maintain and get ammo for.

I believe less than 1500 were imported into the CS.

Albert; I think I've heard you sing... oops wait a minute that was the mules in the corral at the end of the company street.

I go to several Civil War shows a year, and also visit the Horse Soldier in Gettysburg when I am there. The LeMat is indeed a spectacular weapon to behold, but Johan is correct in that it is rather heavy to lug around. Also, they are not cheap. One in good condition generally goes for $20,000 (I suspect because they are rare) and I've seen one as high as $35,000.

Another pricey weapon is the Henry rifle. I once saw one with an asking price of $50,000, which is considerably more than I paid for my house in 1982.

Civil War artifacts are getting pricier and pricier. Now that I'm on a fixed income (the one my wife allows me), I'm down to purchasing buttons and bullets. And even then, I have to give pause before purchase.

LeMats are cool weapons, but Johan is right..it was .42 cal. I believe, and no one had any bullets for that. Of course one could cast his own, and many did, but still it was an oddity. Prices for LeMat replicas are almost $1,000.00 and so I can't believe an original LeMat would sell for anything like $2,000.00... I suspect it was a replica or it was stolen.
I believe the pistol was designed by Gen Beauregard's son in law or brother in law or somesuch.